Toy.



PATENTED APR. l2, 1904.

No. 757,247. G. J. ALTERMATT.

TOY. APPLIoATIoN FILED um: 25, loos.

F0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented April 12, 11904.

PATENT OFFICE.

- SPECIFICATION forming part` of Letters Patent No. 757,247, dated April 12, `1904.

Application lecl lune 25,1903.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE J. ALTERMATT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain Improvement in Toys, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and amusing toy, and has for its object to provide a toy which consists of a hollow spherical shell divided into leaves which are hinged together, and these leaves are adapted to contain a parachute of flexible material connected by strings to eachV of the leaves, so that when the sphere is thrown in the air and begins to fall the leaves will fall open and the parachute be extended and fall to the ground.

vWith these ends in view this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to makeand use the same, the construction Vand operation will now be described in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, forming apart ofthis specification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my invention as it is descending; Fig. 2, a side elevation of my improved toy, showing the same in condition for throwing; Fig. 3, a bottom view of the toy.

In the drawings, A represents a hollow ball or sphere divided into a plurality of leaves or sections B, which when placed close together will form a sphere. Each of these 'sections are cut away at their lower end, so as to leave an opening C, and in this opening is placed a frame formed of Wire, as represented at D.

This frame has as many sides as there arey leaves to the ball.

E represents hinges, one secured to each leaf of the ball and pivoted one upon each side of the frame D, so that all the leaves of the ball or sphere are pivoted together and. free to fall open similar to the petals of a flower.

F is a parachute formed of paper, cloth, rubber, or other flexible material, and this Serial No. 163,075. (No model.)

parachute is connected, by means of the flexible connections G, with the leaves of the ball or sphere A.

In operating the toy the parachute F is crushed together and placed within the leaves of the sphere or ball A, and the leaves of the ball being brought together is thrown into the air, and the ball will remain in substantially a spherical form :while it is ascending; but as soon as it begins to descend the leaves of the ball will fall open and allow the parachute to be caught by the air and be extended. The whole toy will iioat gradually to the ground in the position shown in Fig. l.

I have found by experiment that it is advisable to reinforce the parachute with strips of resilientmaterial-such as bamboo, light steel springs, whalebone, and the likeand secure these to the parachute across one another, as represented at H. These may be crushed together with the parachute, but will tend to cause the parachute to open out quicker than if they were not used.

I do'not wish to be limited to any particular formation ofthe sphere or ball, as the leaves may be made of pressed paper, wood, or any other suitable material, and they may be made of skeleton form covered with paper or may be perforated with a number of holes, if desired, and the parachute may be made of any material desired and used With or Without the spring-strips, and I also do not wish to be limited to any particular means for hinging the leaves of the ball together, although the means now shown in the drawings I consider most practical. Therefore I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim vis 1. A toy consisting of a hollow ball, said ball being divided into a plurality of leaves, said leaves all being hinged together at one end so that said ball may open similar to the petals of a iiower, a parachute connected by flexible connections with each of the leaves, said parachute being crossed or reinforced by light strips of resilient material so as to cause theparaohute to open quickly, as and for the Apurpose specified.

2. A toy consisting of a hollow ball, said ball being divided into four leaves or sections, each leaf or section being eut off slightly at one end so that when the leaves or sections are together an opening will be left at the lower` end of the ball, a frame arranged within the opening, said frame being provided with as many sides as there are leaves to the ball, hinges, one secured to each leaf and hinged to 

